Tuesday, January 3, 2012

A Reason by Erin Browne

A Reason is a play I wrote many years ago. It was partly one of the smaller plays I used as a study for writing the larger play Reasoning.

It was performed last winter as part of the PACE University Directing Festival (Dec 18th 2010) along with my play Lucky in Love. It was interesting to see two very different plays along similar themes in one night, Lucky in Love is complex with a million tiny scenes, A Reason is one long scene - both about friendship, sexuality, misguided young love. Each works at it's own cadence and as a writer, I appreciate that similar stories can unfold in different ways in my brain - and that different directors/actors/producers are attracted to these different styles. A short play can be anything, whether it is over the course of several years or over one very important real time ten minutes of a life.

A REASON

by Erin Browne

Characters:

Gretchen, woman mid 20s

Bill, man mid 20s

Bill paces before an apartment door. He lifts his fist to knock but then brings it down. He turns to leave and then turns back to the door. He paces again muttering something to himself. Gretchen answers the door.

GRETCHEN

I thought I’d help you decide whether or not to knock.

BILL

Gretchen.

GRETCHEN

Bill.

BILL

Gretchen.

GRETCHEN

Did you come over to say, "hi" or is there something else on your mind?

BILL

I was hoping that I could let a few things off my chest - get them off - get them off my chest.

GRETCHEN

Please do.

BILL

You know, you, you.

GRETCHEN

I?

BILL

Look, Gretchen, you’ve had so, so many girls.

GRETCHEN

Girls?

BILL

Why did you need mine too?

GRETCHEN

I didn’t Bill.

BILL

I mean, I would, I sort of don’t know what to say or how to um, if you were a guy, I’d totally deck you but –

GRETCHEN

You can deck me if you want.

BILL

I can’t hit a girl.

GRETCHEN

I slept with your girlfriend, Bill.

BILL

I know, I.

GRETCHEN

We’ve been friends for how many years?

BILL

I don’t know what to do.

GRETCHEN

I’m giving you permission to deck me. I’ll hit you first if it’ll make it easier.

BILL

I’m not going to hit you.

GRETCHEN

You should. I would.

BILL

What?

GRETCHEN

Come on, it’ll make you feel better.

BILL

Fuck you.

GRETCHEN

It’s happened before.

BILL

Before?

GRETCHEN

I never learn, remember how we laughed about that before, when I slept with that chick you were with in high school? But I don't learn. You should punch me right here in the face.

BILL

Don’t tell me what to fucking do.

GRETCHEN

Okay.

BILL

I mean, I guess I just, why?

GRETCHEN

Why not?

BILL

Me.

GRETCHEN

Right.

BILL

God, you’re such a bitch, what does she even see in you?

GRETCHEN

I’m not a bitch.

BILL

I’ll be the judge of that.

GRETCHEN

If I was a bitch, I wouldn’t say hit me, I’d’a called the cops when I saw you coming through the downstairs door.

BILL

I still think you’re a bitch.

GRETCHEN

You’re right.

BILL

Um –

GRETCHEN

I’m not as bitchy as I could have been.

BILL

Well, thanks.

GRETCHEN

Don’t mention it.

BILL

Fuck you.

GRETCHEN

So, why’re you here if you don’t want to punch me?

BILL

But I do want to punch you.

GRETCHEN

Well?

BILL

I just –

GRETCHEN

She’s not here if that’s what you want.

BILL

I know.

GRETCHEN

Keeping an eye on her now, finally?

BILL

She’s at home. She just broke down to me sobbing, says she’s confused.

GRETCHEN

And you came here?

BILL

I did.

GRETCHEN

Ever think you might stay with her, talk to her a little?

BILL

What?

GRETCHEN

She’s not confused.

BILL

What?

GRETCHEN

She may be confused whether she wants to be with you or not but she’s not Confused confused.

BILL

What?

GRETCHEN

I can tell you right now she’s not confused.

BILL

What?

GRETCHEN

Will you stop saying, what? She wouldn’t have told you if she was really confused. It’s a good sign.

BILL

I don’t even know –

GRETCHEN

She’s as straight as a board if that’s what you’re worried about.

BILL

Then - what? What?

GRETCHEN

She’s straight.

BILL

But she did. Sleep. With. You.

GRETCHEN

Yes.

BILL

I’m beginning to really seriously consider punching you, you know.

GRETCHEN

Good, let it out dude.

BILL

What do you mean she’s straight?

GRETCHEN

I can tell, she’s straight. Sleeping with a woman once doesn’t make you gay, I should know. And your’s she’s straight and for some reason, is really into you.

BILL

I - ah –

GRETCHEN

Or she wouldn’t have told you. She’d be here crying with me right now, saying she’s confused. Not telling you and expecting you to hold her and -

BILL

I…

GRETCHEN

But instead you’re here asking me why, when - why I did it isn’t really the issue, is it?

BILL

But –

GRETCHEN

Why I did it is irrelevant to your situation, don’t you think?

BILL

You –

GRETCHEN

Yes, right. What is important is why she did it, and I’m going to tell you because I have a feeling it would take you too long to figure it out yourself. By the time you did she’d really be gone. She did it because you treat her like shit. Because she doesn’t trust you, because my friend, I didn’t treat her great but at least I listened when she spoke. I bet she didn’t even say confused, I bet you weren’t even listening to her just now, were you? So, you have two choices right now. You can either continue to be a dick, standing here hassling me about what my particular issues might be and why I continue to go after women who are totally unavailable to me, and even find myself obsessively feeling something like love towards only those who can never reciprocate, while your adorable soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend sits at home sobbing about her mistakes. Or you could go home and be nice to your cute little straight girlfriend and forgive her, and hug her. You could accept her apology as she tells you that she finds it hard to commit because of her family, and realize that after you forgive her she will viciously commit to you, having great make-up sex, imagining me here alone drinking a beer and wishing I was with her instead. Or you think of us together, whatever you’re into, because let me tell you it was pretty fucking hot. That girl’s an animal.

Bill punches Gretchen in the face. Gretchen reels back and grabs her jaw. Bill shakes his fist and then looks at her in horror.

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Free Short Plays

I believe that new writing (especially short works and monologues) should be free to students, actors, and directors working in class, for festivals, for auditions, and all of the other work that you do for love and not money. So, here they are. I just ask that if you use it, you let me know - erinkellyb@hotmail.com